Unto Us - Part 3
Isaiah 9: 6 For unto us a child is born. Unto us, a Son is given. The government will be on His shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.
This week I've witnessed some incredible fathers in action. Without going into detail, I saw men sacrifice, protect, provide, carry, worry, and powerfully pray for their children. Where did they learn these things? Are they modeling taught behavior or simply acting out of instinct?
As we continue with our Advent passage for the third week, we come to the third name Isaiah calls God; Eternal Father. In other versions, He is an Everlasting Father. The name Father is used almost 200 times in the Bible. When a descriptor such as this is used so much, we can't ignore the significance.
John 8:41 - God Himself is our true Father
Acts 13:33 - I have become your Father
1 John 3:1 - See how much our Father loves
Romans 8:15 - We call Him Abba, Father
The word used in Romans, Abba, is Aramaic for 'daddy.' An intimate word used by a child for his loving father. What God, mighty, powerful, all-knowing, and wise, also invites us to be as close as a parent is to his child? The same God who sent Himself down in the form of His son to re-establish a broken relationship with His children. He invites us to come to Him and climb into His lap while He tells how we are "Dearly Loved."
I realize not everyone has a great relationship with their earthly father. Maybe he was gone, abusive, distant, or pre-occupied. Maybe he was much like the dads I witnessed, caring, attentive, and loving. Despite your preconceived notions of what a dad should be based on your own examples, the Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God obliterates the box we have tried to put Him in. As we gaze upon the manger and look to the tiny baby Jesus, let's remember that this one act was the beginning of a new relationship with our Eternal Father.
Engage you Kiddos -
Activity: Make an acrostic poem using the word FATHER. Use each letter in the word to describe how God is a good father. (i.e. F- faithful A-attentive)
Read: Dance Me Daddy - by Cindy Morgan
https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Me-Daddy-Cindy-Morgan/dp/0310725844
or Just Me and My Dad - Mercer Mayer
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Me-Dad-Little-Critter/dp/0307118398/ref=pd_cp_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0307118398&pd_rd_r=PHR3S8PRN628NWGF3SXY&pd_rd_w=MHlRo&pd_rd_wg=nX7ky&psc=1&refRID=PHR3S8PRN628NWGF3SXY
or either Princess J. Warrior by J.L. McCarthy
https://www.amazon.com/Princess-J-Warrior-L-McCarthy/dp/1540590615/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513182512&sr=8-1&keywords=princess+j+warrior
Discuss:
How is the dad in the book like our Eternal Father? How is he different?
Why do you think God is called Father so many times in the Bible?
What does Everlasting Father mean and how is important to followers of Jesus?
Reiterate: He is our Eternal Father that will not fail.
This week I've witnessed some incredible fathers in action. Without going into detail, I saw men sacrifice, protect, provide, carry, worry, and powerfully pray for their children. Where did they learn these things? Are they modeling taught behavior or simply acting out of instinct?
As we continue with our Advent passage for the third week, we come to the third name Isaiah calls God; Eternal Father. In other versions, He is an Everlasting Father. The name Father is used almost 200 times in the Bible. When a descriptor such as this is used so much, we can't ignore the significance.
John 8:41 - God Himself is our true Father
Acts 13:33 - I have become your Father
1 John 3:1 - See how much our Father loves
Romans 8:15 - We call Him Abba, Father
The word used in Romans, Abba, is Aramaic for 'daddy.' An intimate word used by a child for his loving father. What God, mighty, powerful, all-knowing, and wise, also invites us to be as close as a parent is to his child? The same God who sent Himself down in the form of His son to re-establish a broken relationship with His children. He invites us to come to Him and climb into His lap while He tells how we are "Dearly Loved."
I realize not everyone has a great relationship with their earthly father. Maybe he was gone, abusive, distant, or pre-occupied. Maybe he was much like the dads I witnessed, caring, attentive, and loving. Despite your preconceived notions of what a dad should be based on your own examples, the Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God obliterates the box we have tried to put Him in. As we gaze upon the manger and look to the tiny baby Jesus, let's remember that this one act was the beginning of a new relationship with our Eternal Father.
Engage you Kiddos -
Activity: Make an acrostic poem using the word FATHER. Use each letter in the word to describe how God is a good father. (i.e. F- faithful A-attentive)
Read: Dance Me Daddy - by Cindy Morgan
https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Me-Daddy-Cindy-Morgan/dp/0310725844
or Just Me and My Dad - Mercer Mayer
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Me-Dad-Little-Critter/dp/0307118398/ref=pd_cp_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0307118398&pd_rd_r=PHR3S8PRN628NWGF3SXY&pd_rd_w=MHlRo&pd_rd_wg=nX7ky&psc=1&refRID=PHR3S8PRN628NWGF3SXY
or either Princess J. Warrior by J.L. McCarthy
https://www.amazon.com/Princess-J-Warrior-L-McCarthy/dp/1540590615/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513182512&sr=8-1&keywords=princess+j+warrior
Discuss:
How is the dad in the book like our Eternal Father? How is he different?
Why do you think God is called Father so many times in the Bible?
What does Everlasting Father mean and how is important to followers of Jesus?
Reiterate: He is our Eternal Father that will not fail.
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